Bike Ride to the Park

A couple weeks ago we went on a 6 mile bike ride. Halfway into the ride, we stopped at this park for a picnic. We got the bike trailer with some help from Nana and Gramp for Olivia's birthday. The trailer did great and Olivia made about 4 of the 6 miles before getting fussy.

COOL STORY:

While we were at the park, I(Justin) took Olivia close to the flock of geese to watch people feed them. An older guy came up with a bag of corn and began feeding the geese. After he was out of corn, I thanked him for the experience Olivia had. He stopped and introduced himself. He said, "Hello, my name is Ralph Manly. Here let me give you my card." He pulled out a silver dollar with Eisenhower on it. I was baffled and just smiled, said 'thanks', and stood there with a blank look on my face. I soon realized he used that as a way to tell people about his adventure of meeting President Eisenhower during his service in WWII. As he stood at attention before getting on a plane with his company of paratroopers, Eisenhower walked up to him and engaged him in conversation telling him he was about to go on the greatest adventure of his life. An amazing story to say the least. He was on his way to parachute into Normandy on D-Day. His message was about patriotism and his love for our country. I could sure tell he was for real after hearing that story. He ended his story by telling me he was going back to the beach at Normandy to jump one last time at age 84 next week! WOW! Sure pumped me up and made me a little more proud to be an American. Praise God!

Ralph Manly feeding the geese just before I met him.

Sunday School Birthday

Olivia's Sunday School class had a birthday party for all the kids last week. Olivia is being held by the man on the right (as she almost always is). She's getting better from what we hear. They had a 5 foot blow-up birthday cake outside their room that was pretty cool. The church gave her a t-shirt to wear too.

Dinner Prayer

Crying at dinner? I don't think I've ever done that...unless it was from laughing too hard. Last night was different. Let me preface by saying ever since Olivia could control her own hands, she has not liked anyone holding them, moving them, or touching them for more than a few seconds. So at dinner we just touch her shoulder/arm and then pray. BUT.... Last night was the first time she has ever held my hand!! I felt her little fingers on mine through the entire prayer! They moved around ever so gently and gave a little squeeze every now and then. Are you getting teary eyed too or was it just me...the mom??

And here's an adorable picture I took the other day. We were watching the leaves blow in the trees across the street. It was super windy so they were going 100 miles per hour nonstop. She loved it!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

A year??!! That was super fast! Olivia has been the biggest blessing to this family. It is so amazing to see how God is growing her up with such a loveable personality. I thank God all the time for such a perfect little lady we have....even when she fusses and whines. I wouldn't have asked for anything different. And praise the Lord she is pooping on a regular basis! (no more 9 day stretches)

THANK YOU Aunt Tara for helping with the cake! What fun!

So by the time we got to the finished product, it was a little top heavy. Nothing a few straws couldn't fix!

This was Olivia's look for awhile. She didn't know what to do with everyone staring at her and singing Happy Birthday.

What a dainty little eater! She loved it and would have eaten the whole thing if allowed.

Clean up time. What a smile!

This is the only proof we have as to who came. Grandpa (couch), Grandma (chair), Nana (closer to window), Gramp (orange shirt), Jackson and Luci (dogs), Uncle Will (elbow), Aunt Tara (beside the elbow), Heather (not pictured) and of course Mom, Dad, and Olivia!

Reading cards before ripping into the presents.

Thanks for the farm Grandma and Grandpa!

Thanks for the standing toy Uncle Will and Aunt Tara! My legs are stronger already!

We sure missed not having Aunt Katie, Uncle Greg and the kids. We are glad Olivia got to celebrate with family! Thanks for driving the distance!

Zoo and Who?

I just have to say that Olivia has AMAZING fine motor skills! While on a walk in the graveyard (it's a very pretty one and a great place for Luci to run), I was holding her as we looked at some flowers. Then we saw what looked like some sort of lightening bug sitting on the top of her stroller. With her arm out, I thought "Oh, she wants to touch it....sure." Thinking she wouldn't quite make it, we leaned over a little and with in 1 second flat she had grabbed the bug between her thumb and finger and squished it dead. I was impressed!

We went to the Springfield Zoo 'free day' last weekend. Perfect weather, but a gazillion people there! Lots of interesting ones too.....almost like some of the animals we saw! But hey, it was free.

These were the flowers that Justin and Olivia planted....errr...Olivia watched...for 1/2 of it. Olivia enjoyed eating and squishing the dirt in between her fingers! I don't have an "after" picture, but they look great!

Ok Olivia, Who's your Daddy?

The men of Justin's school had to dress up for "The Big Give" because their school raised so much money.

Thanks for the shirt Aunt Tara & Uncle Will!

"These peppers HAVE to fit here...."

Easter at Gramp and Nana's house

Here's a partial family picture from Easter in Columbia, MO with Justin's parents. Katie's husband, Greg, and their daughter, Andrea couldn't make it. We missed you! Kids from left to right: Nate, Karsen, Olivia, and Aleah.

Quick pick-up & farm animals

It's been so fun showing our house! We get calls saying "I would like to see your house, we're in the neighborhood, can we stop by in 15min?" Sure! So we throw every into drawers, cabinets, microwave, and dishwasher...and wa la! It looks like the kind of clean it would take at least 4 days to get! Luci and Olivia have no idea what's going on, but they enjoy watching.

What a gentle dog! That's a balloon she is playing with!

Too many cute pictures to decide which one.

We took Olivia to a new farm/park in town. Good times by all. She wouldn't stand on the rocks and she won't wear shoes, hence, the jacket. She thought they were Luci's ears.
We took a little ride

Cracker stretch

Today was a successful day of moving across the floor on her stomach....the enticer......crackers! Olivia did everything she could to scoot across the floor without crawling. (unfortunately, no pictures) She stretched as far as she could using toes, legs, knees, and rolling twists to relocate closer to the crackers. She ate 4 of them. She also used the word "dad" correctly to get Justin's attention before he left for work. It was quite the day! Here's some updated pictures.

Officially 11 months old!

Olivia LOVED having Ben and Maddie stay with us for a few days. Temporary siblings!

Olivia likes to catch balls with her feet too!

Pictures say it all!

Pet store visit w/Grandpa

Easter

We spent Easter weekend in Columbia with Gramp and Nana (Justin's parents). Katie (sister), Nate, Aleah, and Carson made it up for a day as well. Olivia got to color eggs for the first time the weekend before.

Olivia got a giant green bunny from Aunt Tara and Uncle Will that she loves to smash her face into.

Grandpa and Olivia

Sweet Pea!

Olivia is such a sweet pea! She is just over 10 months now.....hardly believable! She has finally mastered rolling, which is her main avenue for getting things out of her reach. She is not crawling yet, but likes to dig her toes into the carpet. She "walks" with help. We think she will walk before she crawls. She likes to throw things for Luci to catch and sit on the kitchen counter to help me cook. She's talking a lot these days and I swear she is saying full sentences that sound almost like real English! Here are some pictures!

Olivia really enjoyed this box because it had so many holes for her fingers to fit through.

Ok, Ok.....this picture was taken at bass pro. Luci would have loved to be there!

Aw....How precious!

Olivia enjoyed watching mom and dad wash the car!

Her official swing at the park.

She's experienced her first snow, which she really liked....despite what the picture looks like!

I'll hopefully post more pictures sooner than later!